sunny side up

Clean Report
Longtime Anarchy pal and sailor chick Gail Turlock invited me to come and sail the Sunfish Masters US Nationals on a chartered boat this weekend in Gull Lake, Michigan, and for someone looking to get my 1-year old baby girl in as many pretty bodies of water as possible this summer, it was too good an opportunity to pass up. So we’re headed to the other side of the state to jump on the 3-mile long lake, where Mer and Joey will play on the GLYC beach and I’ll go embarrass myself on the water.
Confession time: I’ve never sailed a Sunfish. I’ve never sailed a Masters anything, and I’ve only raced one singlehanded regatta in my life (a little local thing in a Force 5), so I have zero expectations…but I’d prefer not to come in last in this 40-ish boat regatta.
So…anyone have any tips on making a Sunfish go fast while carrying 210 pounds of meat on it? Peculiarities of the lateen rig? What about reaches and triangle courses, which seem to be a possibility on this tiny lake? Any inside knowledge about Gull Lake? Post it all in here, or just tell me how shitty I am going to do – it’s all good.
Thanks much in advance, and if you’re going, I look forward to meeting you. Keep an eye right here or on Facebook for my reports.

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